Hundreds of thousands of divers in Europe, the CIS countries, just tourists, hearing the words "diving", "scuba diving", mentally immersed in the warm waters of the Mediterranean, Red, Aegean , Indian Ocean. Lists of excursions at numerous resorts necessarily include scuba diving or even just a tour of the coral shallow water with diving masks. Since Turkey is the most visited tourist country, where there is something to see under water, below is about diving in Turkey, its features.
What does Turkey offer
The country of the Mediterranean region, which is washed by the waters of the Black, Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, is rich in its ancient history, hospitality, and mild climate. The tourist season for beach or sea holidays in Turkey lasts from late May to early October. The abundance of fruits, relatively low prices for accommodation attract, without exaggeration, tens of millions of tourists from around the world. For diving in Turkey, there is a wide selection of dive sites for both interests (archeology, corals, marine life) and experience (underwater caves for diving masters, beautiful open areas for beginners). Transparent and warm water will make the dive as comfortable as possible, and what you see will be memorable for life. A lot of diving clubs with instructors will help beginners and experienced divers not to be disappointed in the underwater world of the Turkish coast.
Where to go for a dive
In order for the divers going to Turkey for the first time not to be tormented with the choice of diving places to guarantee an unforgettable experience, a special jury was organized from the best Turkish coaches, underwater photographers and divers. The jury determined ten places of the best diving in Turkey. It is worth noting that seven of these places are concentrated on the coast of the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas, and three - in the area of Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara. You can get to any of the diving sites from the nearest major city or resort by tourist buses as part of diving excursions, transport by numerous diving clubs, or simply by taxi.
Diving for beginners
Conventionally, diving sites in Turkey can be divided into three categories:
- for newbies,
- for experienced
- universal.
For beginners, places such as:
- Fethiye (on the Mediterranean coast). There are no currents, the water is clear to a depth of 50 meters. Depth increases gradually. There is an open underwater cave with an abundance of corals, different types of fish, which will be very interesting for beginners to watch.
- Bodrum (on the coast of the Aegean Sea). It is interesting for a large number of sunken clay amphoras, which were used as containers for shipping, but were then simply disposed of in the sea.
- Marmaris (on the Mediterranean coast). There is also a large number of amphorae, as well as underwater caves, large marine inhabitants - turtles, groupers, barracudas, dolphins.
- Kas (on the Mediterranean coast). Compared to other places, here is the best diving in Turkey. Everything that can be found under water in other places is here. Amphoras, anchors, underwater caves, turtles, barracudas, moray eels, corals, underwater archaeological park with a copy of the sunken ship of the XIV century. For the most experienced, at a depth of 65 meters, the perfectly preserved fragments of two military aircraft.
Diving for experienced
- Ayvalik (on the coast of the Aegean Sea). Very beautiful reefs, amazing rocks with their beauty. Abundance of coral, fish. Here you get the brightest underwater photos.
- Kalkan (on the Mediterranean coast). The main attraction is the wreckage of a sunken British ship. Moreover, the wreckage is located along the underwater canyon at a depth of 15 to 65 meters. Of course, there are a large number of different fish.
Experienced divers do not have to aim for dangerous places. They often discover some unusual place, known for only one attraction, such as Canakkale in the Dardanelles, where you can find the wreckage and even armament of ships traveling from the Aegean Sea to the Marmara and back. With experience, love for the underwater world comes not only because of colorful fish and corals, but also because of the ability to learn the world invisible from the surface of the water.
Side Diving Places
Most of the tourists gather on the sea coast in the region of Antalya. It can be called the most versatile place for scuba diving. This is due to the richness of the seabed, both flora and hundreds of species of fish entering the warm waters of the southern coast even from the Red Sea. Diving in Side, and in Turkey in general, is better organized with the help of clubs, of which there are hundreds.
In addition to knowing the local depths of the sea, instructors will help the beginner give advice to an experienced diver. And it is not always possible to bring diving equipment to Turkey with you.
What will a diver get when diving in Side? First of all, the opportunity to dive from various places - from the beach, from the pier, from the boat. The bottom relief allows this. At a relatively shallow depth there are flooded vessels, various species of fish will please the eye. There are also underwater reefs. A characteristic feature is the very high temperature of the water, which allows you to not be afraid of cold currents and makes diving safe in every way.
What to see under water in Belek
Another popular destination in the Antalya area is Belek. This is a young resort that is developing very dynamically, according to all the canons of first-class relaxation. What are world-class golf clubs alone? As for the rest on the water, it is safe here, since there are no strong currents in the bay of Antalya and warm, clear water. An important factor - this resort is not so crowded, so if you look at Turkey as a whole, diving in Belek will be more comfortable than in the main diving centers. The underwater world, as in Side, is characterized by a variety of fish, vegetation, which, combined with the crystal clear water, makes the most pleasant impression on divers.
Diving Reviews in Turkey
The situation with diving reviews in Turkey is mixed. Many people think that exotic underwater life is the only thing you can see, and Malaysia, Seychelles, Egypt, but not Turkey, are suitable for this. The erroneous opinion is formed due to ignorance of places where you can see the underwater world, due to the lack of an experienced assistant or instructor who will show where and what to see. At present, it is customary to share travel experience on forums, on social networks, so diving in Turkey is gradually becoming its deserved place for an interesting and worthwhile event, which should be devoted, if not a trip, to at least one day.
A look at Turkey before buying tickets
An unambiguous conclusion about the beauty of the Turkish seabed has been made, pictures of corals, underwater inhabitants, sunken antiquities have already been mentally drawn. But the main question remains: where is diving in Turkey better, where more interesting? The main places for diving are concentrated in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. Part is located in the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles. Conventionally, the most striking can be called such resort places as:
- Antalya with the suburbs of Side and Belek, plus the nearby Kas;
- Marmaris
- Bodrum
- Fethiye.
Guaranteed there you can see various corals, fish, turtles, barracudas, moray eels. Fans of touching history will be interested to see fragments of ancient Greek buildings, amphorae, statues. Also opens the world of sunken ships, aircraft. Turkey may be the first place for a beginner diver and will not disappoint with the richness of its underwater world.